County fireworks ordinances

It is illegal to ignite, explode or use fireworks within the city limits of Lawrence at any time. In the unincorporated area of Douglas County, firework use is permissible from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 2-3 and from 7 a.m. to midnight July 4.

In the city of Lawrence, some novelty items are acceptable for neighborhood parades and family celebrations, according to the Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical Department, including:

Party poppers: small items not more than .25 grains of explosive with a string protruding from the device that is usually pulled to ignite.

Snapper: small paper-wrapped item with no more than .02 grains of explosive that, when dropped, the device explodes.

Snakes, glow worms: produces a snake-like ash upon burning.

Sparklers: Wire or stick coated with pyrotechnic material that ignites to produce a shower of sparks (sparklers are only permitted in Lawrence June 27- July 5 as part of the state-permitted items).

“The most devastating injuries, I think, occur on the hand and the eye,” Gard says.

“Any kind of burn that takes place on the hand can permanently limit your mobility because the hand has such fine function. If you get a second-degree burn that takes off that first layer of skin, you can get scar tissue to where you cannot fully open and close your hand properly. And most people are (setting off fireworks) with their dominant hand, and that can permanently affect your ability to function.”

To avoid injury, Gard advises people never to throw fireworks and to use punks, instead of matches, when setting them off on the ground.

“The problem is you get too close and it can explode in your hand or eye. If it gets within the eye socket itself, it can detach the retina and cause blindness,” Gard says. “If it’s close enough to the ear and ruptures the eardrum, it can cause permanent hearing damage. And then the burns, anywhere on the body, obviously from a pain standpoint and the scars, are very devastating injuries we see.”

“Clothes can actually catch fire, and you can get a topical or direct contact burn where the clothing will adhere to the skin,” she says.

Before you light up your neighborhood, check out these other safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov):

Make sure fireworks are permitted in your state or local area. Many states and local governments prohibit or limit consumer fireworks.

Don’t allow young children to play with fireworks under any circumstances. Sparklers, considered by many a “safe” firework for the young, burn at very high temperatures and can ignite clothing. Children cannot understand the danger involved and cannot act appropriately in case of emergency.

Older children should only be permitted to use fireworks under close adult supervision. Do not allow any running or horseplay.

Light fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from houses, dry leaves or grass and flammable materials.

Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for pouring on fireworks that don’t go off.

Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Douse and soak them with water and throw them away.

Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

Never ignite fireworks in a container, especially a glass or metal container.

Keep unused fireworks away from firing areas.

Store fireworks in a dry, cool place. Check instructions for special storage directions.

Never have any portion of your body directly over a firework while lighting.

Some idiot in our neighborhood has decided that small pipe bombs are preferable to actual fireworks. We're hearing blasts that are low to the ground that shake the windows. We've heard two so far, in different areas of the neighborhood, so it's hard to pin him down. I hope he gets caught before he kills someone. If I knew where it was coming from, I'd have the cops all over him.

I totally agree. Folks if the sales go up then there are benefits to EVERYONE. There was a photo posted of two little girls burning each other in a lower post. Don't blame the kids the parents or adults in charge are at fault for not taking control of their children's actions... Hmmm that sounds familiar

I agree with cowboy, I will also be outside of town enjoying festivities the way the Fourth is supposed to be. Lawrence really did ruin the Fourth. Banning fireworks only ruins it for the people already being safe and courteous, not the trouble makers who will continue despite the ban, enforced or not.

The ban is a good thing, even if 100% enforcement is impossible. For folks who don't remember what Lawrence was like in the two years just before the ban, it was a virtrual war zone. Multiple houses on a single block would band together and shoot commercial-grade munitions for hours on end, with this behavior repeated across the city, and probably half of the rest of the population would blow a week's grocery bill on more normal stuff. There would be a gray pall over the entire city afterward and mountains of spent fireworks would clog the streets and parks, sometimes for weeks afterward.

If people would set off residential-grade fireworks in a responsible manner from dusk to 10 p.m. on only the 4th and clean up after themselves, then maybe there would not be a need for a ban.

My family was one of the families that would shoot for hours but we did clean up the mess that was part of the fun because we would use the hose and soke the remains and have a water fight then sweep it up. What you are talking about are the few that ruined it for the rest of us. I moved away and came back to find the town I grew up in to be a strange place. There have been too many changes and none for the better. I will be writing letters to City commision to plea for some changes to in a way turn back the hands of time. Not just the fireworks that is only ONE TIME A YEAR! But for other issues as well that have been changed.

I have seen tenants blow their rent money on fireworks and not pay their rent. I do remember the grey pall. I stepped outside to get something and ended up taking an ambulance to the emergency room. Do you know when you go to the ER for an asthma attack you must have testing (EKG) for a heart attack also. If this is true, maybe I'll start taking prednisone the day before just in case. Having that trip to the ER for an asthma attack really put a black mark on my medical records as far as insurance companies are concerned. They shouldn't be allowed to deny you insurance or double your rates for having asthma but they do.

The only reason they have banned fireworks is so that people will go to the city display and spend money with the vendors. As a child in lawrence we were allowed to shoot off our own fireworks. Some people still do. Honestly if its because of fires then people couldn't have fireplaces, gas furnances, grills, candles...... hmmm food for thought.

I support the fireworks ban and wish that it were strictly enforced. Don't give me any of that "family tradition" crap. I used to know a family who had a tradition of killing every cat they could get their hands on. Was that an excusable tradition? I think not. There was a time that some families had a tradition of lynching minorities. Admitedly these are extreme examples, but they were "traditions." Fireworks can be fun, but as long as they start fires and cause injuries, they should be either safely controlled or eleminated.

Actually misterlee I have lost everything in a fire due to a smoker. Now hows that for you? Banned doesn't solve the problem it just causes more people to want to do it. Example banning or outlawing drugs didn't stop it did it? Apparently you didn't have a happy childhood I feel sorry for you for that. Thank god we live in a free country. You have your opinion and I have mine. You will be unpleased to know I have already purchased my fireworks and will be out on family land in rural douglas county since our fine city officials kind enough to keep us from enjoying a joyous holiday in the city limits. FYI there are a dozen states that allow and sell fireworks year round. To all readers if you shoot of your own fireworks just like drinking or smoking be responisble. If you don't have fun spending money downtown... good luck finding parking too and they increased parking tickets to 3 dollars.

Actually, a fine may make some consider the ban if the city is going to enforce the ordinance. Rest assured, if I see some moron parent letting their child under the age of six shoot off firecrackers, I will be on the phone to the LPD, ban enforcement or not. There's a difference between child endangerment and safe fun.

If it's true the city is not going to enforce the fireworks ban, LMH should see an increase in business for the ER. Additional lincome is always good for our local hospital. What is the current cost for the ER?

Also wondering what the legal ramifications are for the City not enforcing the fireworks ban?

LOL, the city commission, who was reported by a poster above as saying the ban wouldn't be enforced, has cancelled the meeting for tonight. So if anyone had objections, they won't be able to voice them in a public meeting. Kind of underhanded, don't you think? Was this discussed at any public meeting? Not arguing for or against fireworks, just how the commission is using their power.

Once again I will be taking my money to Franklin County and shooting off fireworks with my kids at my grandparents place. When Lawrence first considered this stupid ban, I asked the City Commissioners whether we would see reduced home insurance rates...nope; whether we would see a cost savings to the city from reduced police or fire calls.....nope instead we get more cost due to more enforcement. This is a stupid ban that needs to be repealed.